Learning Hinduism?

Question

i'm looking to learn Hinduism and need a good resource to do so.
i know virtually nothing about this religion, and so i'm trying to avoid spending money on books and such until i know if it is for me.

basically, i want an informative website that covers the Traditions, the Practices, the ways of Worship, the History, and the pantheon of Hinduism

also, if you are Hindu, i would enjoy it if you would E-mail me what you know and possibly answer any questions i have.


thankyou,
Samuel

Answer 1

Try Wonder that was India by A L Basham.

And the site is a good introduction to give you basic idea about it.

http://www.hinduwisdom.info/contents.htm
http://www.hinduwisdom.info/introduction_to_hinduism.htm

Added:
Master-trix-us is a bigotted idiot. He has no idea what he is talking about or His information is deliberately wrong.

To start with Indira Gandhi was a Brahman but her husband not. Firoj Fardoon Gandhi was a Parasi. So that "Brahman" married a non Hindu Parasee. And that makes Rajeev Gandhi a non Brahman.

L B Shastri was not a Brahman. He was a Kayastha.

As for marriage columns What about Christians who ask for Syrian chritians and Roman catholics only?

Would this "Master" dare say a word agaist Mother Teresa who would not let a non Catholic to adopt from her orphonage even if they were Christians.

He has either no Idea about Hindus or he is out for a hate campaign.

Answer 2

Swami Vivekananda who has introduced Hindu philosophy
in the West more than hundred years ago, is the best source
for you. I just quote a few words of him, ' Worship everything
as God - every form is His temple. All else is delusion. Always
look within, never without '.
Here is an e-mail, contact them,you will get all your answers.
[e-mail]. Website : www.advaitaonline.com
Please contact them to find out whether there is a centre, close
to where you live, so that you can meet them in person and
also use the library for free. Good luck.

Answer 3

Hinduism is a cultural aberration and that it has survived thus long is a tribute to the cunning and guile of the Brahmin priests aided by the ignorance of the hindu populace. Nowhere else on earth will you find a more motley assemblage of humans who are so bitterly divided that their personal prejudices have caused their country to be repeatedly looted and plundered easily by foreign invaders (Huns, Aryans, Mughals, British, etc). It is such an inward looking society that in its 3000 year history there is not a single Hindu explorer of note.
The institution of caste pervades hindu society and there is no greater curse on earth than to be born as a Lower caste hindu and any Brahmin idiot who tells you that caste is dead, please ask him to read the marriage columns in any newspaper and even better ask the jackass to marry a non-brahmin. For a brahmin any non-brahmin is an untouchable/ shudra. It is not an accident that majority of the country's Prime Ministers have been brahmins (Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Narasimha Rao, Vajpayee, L.B.Shastri, etc) and even the "meritocracy" Infosys has only one non-brahmin as a founder. All this prejudice breeds apathy that has to be seen to be comprehended... how else can you explain that a nation growing at 8% a year has over half its population dying from hunger?
In my opinion it is inevitable that Hinduism is doomed to self-destruct and scatter into various feudal groupings of erstwhile Indians.

Answer 4

The Best way is to start reading the most accepted book in Vedic Culture "Bhagavad Gita"
It is essence of all the teachings of Vedas and the conclusion of Vedas...
You can read it on-line at
http://www.bhagavadgitaasitis.com/en

there are many edition of Bhagavad Gita but This is presented As it Is... and from proper Sampradaya ...

Pl don't forget to click on the numbers and read the purports also..
It would be best if you could read it least once before asking questions ..I am sure you will find answers to most (if not all) of your question there ...

Answer 5

Good place to start will be Wikipedia.... the Hinduism sections are well written by individuals who I believe know their facts and are accurate to my knowledge... Easy to read and understand... from there you can move to much heavier stuff but I would suggest you start her.... Looking for an Hindu, well I'm one progressive one, so feel free to email me...

Answer 6

I love the Hindu religion and I study it all the time...let me know what questions u have...

Answer 7

Try to google "e vedanta" and "chinmaya international foundation" the course on e vedanta by CIF is the best .I did it its great

Answer 8

What happened when you put "Hinduism" in a search engine? Did you try that? Wikipedia, perhaps?

Answer 9

I am from HINDU religion.Ask your question